Rephonic
Artwork for Word In Your Ear
The Beatles
Oasis
Punk Rock
Music Industry
London
David Bowie
Bob Dylan
Taylor Swift
Beach Boys
Nick Drake
Prince
The Rolling Stones
Ringo Starr
Jimi Hendrix
Bruce Springsteen
Elkie Brooks
Music History
Led Zeppelin
Hey Joe
Luck

Mark Ellen and David Hepworth have been talking about and writing about music together and individually for a collective eighty years in magazines like Smash Hits, Mojo and The Word and on radio and TV programmes like "Rock On", "Whistle Test" and VH-1.

Over thirteen years ago, when working on the late magazine The Word, they began producing podcasts. Some listeners have been kind enough to say th... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes1009Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music CommentaryMusicMusic History

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Artwork for Word In Your Ear

Latest Episodes

A whole new format we’ve invented for people who’ve been guests before and were so entertaining we wanted them back. So we’ve devised some random questions to spark a few memories and revelations. First up, Sid Griffin of the Long Ryders, touring the... more

“Good hair, good shoes, something to say” were the requirements of Indie Sleaze whose vanguard lit up the fading music press in the first decade of the 21st Century – acts like Franz Ferdinand, the Rakes, the Cribs, Kaiser Chiefs and Bloc Party. Jani... more

This week’s news in three separate files - the Good, the Bad and the Befuddling. Which involves …

… have Oasis created their own economy?

… are stadium gigs now like historical re-enactment?

… “people listen to music more intently in Manchester... more

Clint Boon was at the heart of “the two biggest musical revolutions of my lifetime” – as a teenager for Joy Division and Buzzcocks, and later the Stone Roses, Happy Mondays and Hacienda and onstage with Inspiral Carpets, a world of characters as big ... more

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Recent Guests

Janine Warren
Author of The World Was A Mess But His Hair Was Perfect (Indie Sleaze book)
Author
Episode: An Indie Sleaze special! – up and down with the Strokes, Libertines and Arctic Monkeys
Clint Boon
Musician and author, member of Inspiral Carpets
Inspiral Carpets
Episode: Clint Boon saw Manchester lift off twice and auditioned the young Noel Gallagher
Zoë Howe
Author of Typical Girls?
Author/Researcher
Episode: The Slits, a movie in waiting - “Marvel superheroes with their pants on the outside!”
Shawn Colvin
Singer-songwriter and former actor
Episode: Shawn Colvin – songwriter, storyteller, urban cowgirl, singing waitress
Trevor Dan
Radio head; expert on radio and broadcasting
Episode: The world’s greatest radio station! & things we loved about Dolly Parton
The Mighty Jelltex
Birthday guest in a weekly quiz segment
Word In Your Ear
Episode: The world’s greatest radio station! & things we loved about Dolly Parton
Natalie Merchant
Singer with 10,000 Maniacs, artist behind Cabinet Of Wonder project
Cabinet Of Wonder / Solo career
Episode: Natalie Merchant returns playing ‘Mother Goose as an 18th Century feminist’
Craig Reid
Member of The Proclaimers
The Proclaimers
Episode: The Proclaimers know the exquisite delight of your songs being sung in football stadiums
Charlie Reid
Member of The Proclaimers
The Proclaimers
Episode: The Proclaimers know the exquisite delight of your songs being sung in football stadiums

Hosts

Mark Ellen
Host of Word In Your Ear; veteran music journalist and broadcaster with long-standing involvement in music culture history.
David Hepworth
Co-host and co-creator; veteran music journalist and author with extensive industry knowledge.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 844 ratings
  • Smashing pod from the Smash Hits Team

    Podcast Addict
    5
    ericorthwaite
    3 months ago
  • Great podcast

    Like sitting in a pub with some mates chatting about music and arts. We need a book with all the Stackwaddys in it .

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mdjudickck
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • A constant companion

    ‘Keep us in therapy and you can walk the dog at the same time’ goes the ident, well WIYE regularly accompanies me on my late night dog walks and I hope it continues to do so for a long time.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    pwg69
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Two Beautiful People

    Great raconteurs who must be listened to. One of these guys kind of sounds like Paul McCartney too, which is not bad at all.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Guy Jincarde
    Japan4 months ago
  • Where’s Pete?

    Love the pod, guys. Always fun and enlightening. Thanks for the words about Andy Kershaw. I saw Pete Paphides’ column about Andy and he mentioned interviewing Andy for Word Magazine back in the day. Which leads me to the question: Has Pete ever appeared on Word In Your Ear?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Joshua Graham12
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Appeals to those who want nuanced cultural context rather than quick takes.
Some critique the ad load or occasional digressions, but many still rate the show highly.
Listeners praise the hosts' knowledgeable, relaxed chemistry and storytelling.
Fans value the deep dives into music history and the array of guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Natalie Merchant returns playing ‘Mother Goose as an 18th Century feminist’
Q: Will this project remain evergreen, and how scalable is it?
Yes, designed to be evergreen and scalable with continued addition of content, videos, and teaching materials, and partnerships to keep it relevant in classrooms across time.
Natalie Merchant returns playing ‘Mother Goose as an 18th Century feminist’
Q: How did the Mother Goose project start and evolve into the current form?
The project began as a preschool program focused on teaching through rhymes and songs, evolved through a collaboration with educators and a move to multimedia, videos, and orchestral arrangements with the Chicago Symphony, expanding into a broad, freely accessible educational resource.
Natalie Merchant returns playing ‘Mother Goose as an 18th Century feminist’
Q: What was the first show you saw, can you remember?
Merchant recalls a 1971 community college production of Godspell that left a deep impression, followed by backstage access and a formative sense of performance.
Martin Simpson’s 60 years on the folk circuit ‘making people cry for a living’
Q: What first drew you to the guitar and to the folk scene?
Simpson describes growing up with a mix of Gilbert and Sullivan, American blues, and traditional songs, which laid the foundation for his vocal and guitar work and his aim to move audiences emotionally.
The Shadows and the chequered tale of the first British rock’n’roll band
Q: What do you think is the greatest Shadows record and why does that track stand out?
The hosts highlight Wonderful Land as a standout for its innovative structure and orchestration, noting FBI as the quintessential Shadows sound, while Wonderful Land introduced strings and shifted expectations of instrumental pop, making it a landmark.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Word In Your Ear

What is Word In Your Ear about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A conversational deep-dive into music history, culture, and personalities, hosted by two veteran music journalists. Episodes frequently center on influential artists, defining moments in rock and folk history, and behind-the-scenes industry stories. The tone is warmly anecdotal, often blending nostalgia with sharp cultural observations, and guests range from legendary performers to biographers and music historians. A standout trait is the show's long-running, knowledgeable vibe—listeners get seasoned perspectives, well-researched context, and engaging banter that feels like chatting with music-obsessed friends. This mix makes it attractive to listeners who enjoy rich storytelling, historical context, and candid conversations with figures sh... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Word In Your Ear?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Word In Your Ear:

1. Rockonteurs with Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt
2. EggPod Express
3. Sodajerker On Songwriting
4. Something About the Beatles
5. THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST

How many episodes of Word In Your Ear are there?

Word In Your Ear launched 5 years ago and published 1009 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Word In Your Ear?

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What guests have appeared on Word In Your Ear?

Recent guests on Word In Your Ear include:

1. Janine Warren
2. Clint Boon
3. Zoë Howe
4. Shawn Colvin
5. Trevor Dan
6. The Mighty Jelltex
7. Natalie Merchant
8. Craig Reid

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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